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Brigstow74

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March 19, 2012 at 1:40 pm in reply to: CVF Construction #2024220

Brigstow74
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The best idea of this type that I saw came from a French Minister who announced that it would be willing to loan the RN some aircraft if needed, that way the F35c purchase could get kicked to the right for a few years while the RN work up with Rafale. I’m not sure how feasible the whole thing would be in practice though.

I would agree with that option. Interesting turn of phrase on the MOD website, the part I’ve put in bold is something I’ve not seen before in previous press statements:

“There were a number of articles in the papers over the weekend which claim that the MOD is preparing to make an announcement about its purchase of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

The MOD is currently finalising the 2012-13 budget and balancing the Equipment Plan. This means reviewing all programmes, including elements of the carrier strike programme, to validate costs and ensure risks are properly managed.

The Defence Secretary expects to announce the outcome of this process to Parliament before Easter.

The intention to move to a ‘cats and traps’ based carrier strike capability, which was announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, was always subject to a detailed piece of work to assess the costs and risks involved in converting a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier. That work is ongoing.”

I guess we’ll find out more on Monday when the next Defence Questions is scheduled.

March 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm in reply to: CVF Construction #2024231

Brigstow74
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The Telegraph is reporting this again today.

This is the same newspaper that only a month ago reported that the defence budget was balanced and even had a surplus of £2bn (coincidence?).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9086975/MoD-balances-books-first-time-in-four-decades-Defence-Secretary-to-announce.html

From what I’ve read in it over the last few years it is not in favour of building them in the first place and looking at any opportunity to put it in a bad light.

I guess that this is going to be a political decision rather than a military or financial one. It depends on whether the PM is able to manage the volte-face, both domestically and overseas and from what I’ve read I’m under the impression we have already lost political capital with the USMC when we chose in 2010 to swap to the C version.

If we did decide to go with the F-35B, would this mean we are able to reintroduce carrier aviation much earlier than 2020 and if so wouldn’t that have a financial impact too?

February 27, 2012 at 1:49 pm in reply to: UK considers Rafale and F-18 as 'interim aircraft' #2296493

Brigstow74
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The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the MOD will place an order next year for around 20 F35s and be operational by 2016, but cost concerns will be raised during meetings in March.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9091980/Britain-may-struggle-to-pay-for-new-fighter-jets.html

If we were to decide on an interim aircraft, perhaps we could form an Anglo-French Carrier Air Wing with a squadron from each nation (AEW and support staff would be shared). It would fly from the Charles de Gaulle until the Prince of Wales is available. The Charles de Gaulle would then be able to enter refit.

Perhaps this could even free up funds a little to allow the Queen Elizabeth to be converted first (and earlier) then dovetail better with the Charles de Gaulle’s refit

It would use pooled MN Rafales, mitigating the negative publicity of the RN “buying” French aircraft.

January 3, 2012 at 2:00 pm in reply to: Knowing what we know now, what would you do different. #2027699

Brigstow74
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If I can take this from when I first became intersted in defence matters (mid 1980s) then it would be building 1 or preferably 2 LHD style ships rather than replacing the Falklands frigate losses. They would have been useful as sea control ships too in view of the Cold War requirements at the time.

Otherwise it would have been for the Options for Change review to have come to the same conclusions as the 1998 SDR which would have allowed for what became CVF to have at least a 5 year head start.

Taking the 2010 SDSR as a starting point, I would have placed the amphibious ships into extended readiness with a mixed regular and reserve crew for training and emergency purposes. The aim would be to extend their service life and save funds to keep a small Harrier detachment and allowing Illustrious to sail as a small LHA.

As of today and assuming purchasing F-18s isn’t realistic, it would be to ensure the Type 45s had their “fitted for but not with” systems added including LACM and BMD.

Out of interest, would anyone have altered or not progressed with Typhoon and would purchasing AV-8B as a Sea Harrier FRS1/Harrier GR3 replacement had been practical or even beneficial?

September 13, 2011 at 11:02 am in reply to: Strength of the RN with QEC #2034345

Brigstow74
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RN: 1982 vs 2020

It’s not entirely useful of course but I wondered if a comparison of fleet strength would be interesting. I don’t have a pre Falklands ORBAT but I have found details in British Warships and Auxiliaries (compiled in November 1982) and am assuming Ocean is retired and current plans are not altered.

Aircraft carriers: 3 Hermes/Invincible CVS v 2 Queen Elizabeth CVF
Destroyers: 12 Bristol/County/Type42 v 6 Type 45
Frigates: 49 Type 12/Leander/Type 21/Type22 v 13 Type 23

SSBN: 4 Resolution v 4 Vanguard
SSN: 11 Valiant/Swiftsure v 7 Astute
SSK: 15 v none

Amphibious: 2 Fearless and 5 LSLs v 2 Albion and 3 Bay

MCM: 24 Hunt/Coniston (plus 17 in training duties) v 14 Hunt/Sandown
OPV: 9 Castle/Island v 4 River
Survey: 9 Hecla/Bulldog/Endurance v 4 Scott/Echo/Protector

There has been a large reduction in SSKs and Frigates which perhaps is to be expected in view that we are not likely to be fighting another Battle of the Atlantic overnight and this may have added weight to the view the RN will be less capable.

That said, I would still like to see more in the fleet (an 8th Astute, a replacement for Ocean and a slowing of the Type 22 and Type 23 retirements to boost numbers) but then I don’t have to work out how to pay for it.:confused:

August 23, 2011 at 2:41 pm in reply to: CVF Construction #2035804

Brigstow74
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Hi everyone,

Saw this on the MOD website:

“Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy, said:

“Excellent progress is being made on this project and it will form the cornerstone of the Royal Navy’s Future Force 2020.

“It is clear evidence that the UK shipbuilding industry has the expertise and experience to deliver a project of this size and complexity, delivering our next generation of carrier strike capability.”

The block will travel around the north coast before arriving at Rosyth on 21 August 2011.

The 65,000-tonne ship, the first of two new Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, is expected to be operational by 2020.

The 919ft (280m) carrier, along with its sister vessel HMS Prince of Wales, will be converted to accommodate Joint Strike Fighter jets.”

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/KeySectionOfNewNavyCarrierIsOnTheMove.htm

Interesting that the official MOD website states the first one (i.e. HMS Queen Elizabeth) will be in service by 2020 and that both will be converted.

Not sure if this clarifies the plans or not, though.
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